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Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is made available to the general public and is not intended to serve as legal advice.You should consult a trained legal professional in your area for questions you may have about the laws affecting juveniles or any legal interpretations.

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October 20, 2009
Judge Tom
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1

Can public school libraries ban certain books?

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The American Library Association publishes each year the “Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books.” For several years “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky has made the list. In October, 2009, it was removed from the libraries at William Byrd and Hidden Valley High Schools in Virginia. Apparently a complaint was made by a parent regarding the book’s sexually explicit scenes.

PerksofWallflowerWhen a complaint is received about a book, a process for review occurs whereby several librarians read the book and decide if it will be returned to the library’s collection. School libraries have a responsibility to their readers and may, under appropriate circumstances, exercise censorship discretion.

Banned Books Week takes place every Fall across America. It is an effort to increase awareness of First Amendment rights and censorship. You may recognize some of these books – they all made the Top Ten List in recent years:

Gossip Girls by Cecily von  Ziegesar

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Forever by Judy Blume

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Some of the objections to these materials included offensive language, sexual content, homosexuality, anti-family content, occult, satanism, religious viewpoints, violence, racism, and unsuitable for age group.

Do you think your school or public library should be in the business of banning books? Are the reasons cited above grounds to keep a book from access? Do you agree that censorship should be exercised by your school or your parents, or both? Are “age-appropriate” categories of reading materials acceptable? Why or why not?

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Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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1 Comment

  • KellyAnn
    November 24, 2009 6:41 pm count( 0 )

    You can choose what to read, but it’s best to have all possibilities open.